James Milton: Football predictions & free betting accumulator tips

Free football tips, bets and analysis for this weekend's Premier League, EFL and European action.

Best bets

Southampton to beat Wolves
3pm Saturday
1pt 12-5 Betfred, BoyleSports

Watford to beat Rotherham
3pm Saturday
2pts 13-10 general

Borussia Monchengladbach to beat Mainz
Sky Sports Football, 4.30pm Sunday
3pts 6-5 BoyleSports, Hills

Best Premier League bet

Wolves v Southampton 3pm Saturday

Wolves's frustrating start to the season continued with a goalless draw at Bournemouth on Wednesday and they should be opposed in Saturday's Premier League home fixture against Southampton.

A lack of goals has been a problem for Wanderers throughout Bruno Lage's reign. They scored just 38 times in 38 league games last season and have found the net only twice in their first five outings of 2022-23.

That is a concerning statistic, especially as they have had a decent set of early fixtures, facing promoted Bournemouth and Fulham as well as Leeds, who narrowly avoided relegation last season.

Southampton ended 2021-22 in dire form and kicked off the new campaign with a 4-1 loss at Tottenham. Since then, though, Ralph Hasenhuttl's men have shown great spirit and a consistent goal threat, coming from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Leeds and scoring two late goals in a 2-1 win at Leicester.

They had 17 attempts at goal in last weekend's unfortunate 1-0 loss to Manchester United at St Mary's and responded brilliantly to that setback by beating Chelsea 2-1 on Tuesday.

A similarly energetic and confident display from Saints could be enough to take the points against their toothless hosts at Molineux.

Best EFL bet

Rotherham v Watford 3pm Saturday

Promoted Rotherham's unbeaten start to the Championship season ended with a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland on Wednesday and the Millers may face more disappointment at home to Watford.

These teams have scored just 16 goals in 13 league fixtures between them this season so a tight contest is anticipated but Watford have come through some tough early games, beating Sheffield United, Burnley and Middlesbrough at home and drawing at West Brom.

The Hornets have also drawn at Birmingham and Preston on the road this season and the trip to Rotherham, whose manager Paul Warne admitted that the margin of defeat at Sunderland "could have been greater" than 3-0, looks a good opportunity for a first away win.

Best European bet

Borussia Monchengladbach v Mainz
Sky Sports Football, 4.30pm Sunday

Former Norwich manager Daniel Farke has made an impressive start to his career at Borussia Monchengladbach and he could be celebrating a third straight Bundesliga home win on Sunday.

Gladbach beat Hoffenheim 3-1 and Hertha Berlin 1-0, benefiting from red cards for their visitors in both games, and last weekend's 1-1 draw at champions Bayern Munich was another morale-boosting result.

Bayern needed an 83rd-minute equaliser to avoid a repeat of last season's home defeat to Gladbach, who were also pegged back by a late penalty in their 2-2 draw at Schalke.

A front three of Jonas Hofmann, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea should cause problems for Sunday's visitors Mainz, who scored late goals in 2-1 wins at struggling Bochum and Augsburg but were thumped 3-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen last time out.

Weekend accumulators

Banker
Sheffield Wednesday
The Owls have won four of their last five League One matches to nil, thumping Forest Green 5-0 last weekend, while visitors Barnsley have conceded 11 goals in their last four league and cup matches.

Blowout
Tottenham
Fulham bounced back from an unfortunate defeat at Arsenal last weekend by beating Brighton and the Premier League's surprise packages could unsettle hot favourites Spurs in north London.

Accumulator
Norwich 4-5, Oxford 8-13, Sheffield Wednesday 8-13, Athletic Bilbao 11-20. £1 accumulator returns £7.28 with Hills.

Both teams to score
Games at Brighton 4-5, Portsmouth 8-11, Union Berlin 4-6. £1 treble returns £5.20 with Hills.

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